Relations are the ones on forefront fuelling the abduction and killing of people with albinism aside exhuming their body parts, Malawi police have said.

Gondwa: Relatives are behind the albino rituals

And while concurring with the police, Association of Persons with Albinism (APA) has also blamed the increased albino killings on conmen.

Speaking during Tikhale Tcheru programme monitored on MBC television, National police Public Relations officer, Nicholas Gondwa disclosed that investigations revealed that relatives for people with albinism
were the ones fuelling the malpractice.

“It is very sad development; our investigations discovered that it is the relatives of the victims who are on forefront fuelling this practice. How can one from Blantyre know a graveyard of albino in area they have never been before? People with albinism bank their trust on relatives, not knowing they have twisted mind,” explained Gondwa.

Malawi is grappling with a spate of abductions and killings of people with albinism whose body- parts are believed by some misled sections of the society that can magically be used to make one rich.

However, Gondwa said based on interrogations with arrested culprits; there is no proof to this theory.

“No-one has ever confessed to have become rich by selling body parts of an albino. Every culprit we have interrogated never confessed to have made money through such evil act”.

He added: “Malawi use to be a peaceful and loving nation until 2014 end when cases of albino abduction, killing and graveyard exhuming started. Police intensified patrols and security checks to curb the malpractice. It stopped until last year”.

Gondwa admitted that the law-enforcers might have relaxed in providing security to people with albinism until the malpractice resurfaced, saying now they are using every platform including churches and
mosques to ensure people understand the ills of such conduct.

Meanwhile, Gondwa has urged Parliament to consider amending the country’s laws to accommodate stiffer punishment on those implicated in albino killings.

Speaking in the same programme, executive member for Association of Persons with Albinism (APA), Alex Machila said now people with albinism live in fear considering that some ill-minded people believe
their body parts can be traded.

“It’s very painful and distressful, instead of regarding each other as citizens of this nation; some have chosen to victimize people with albinism. It’s just the colour of skin but there is nothing special to
albinism. We are not different from any other person apart from skin pigment. Conmen are fuelling the killing of albinos; they are creating insecurity to people with albinism,” said Machila.

Machila said he was happy with Malawi police efforts and called on journalists to investigative deeply on what is happening and who is fuelling the killing of people with albinism.

“We are concerned that there is no law dealing with such cases. Courts can’t help due to lack of such laws. We are calling for protection as provided for in the Constitution. We seek love from Malawians, we are all one,” he added.

Tikhale Tcheru is television programme sponsored by Malawi Gaming Board (MGB) and is aired very Saturday afternoon on MBCtv and repeated on Monday 16:30 hours.

Albinoes are human beings and I think stiff laws are already in place to discourage deliberate murder of any person. If we concentrate too much on prevention of ritual motivated albino killings these witch doctors will change goal posts and start demanding body parts of mad people, midgets, celibates, infertiles, infants, grannies, physically disadvantaged, etc. It is our justice system which is failing this country. How on earth can somebody convicted of any murder be sentenced to 17 years and not death? And why all those sentenced to hang be denied their just sentence which lead to others escaping from… Read more »

It is true, security must start with families, those that have albinos must take care of their relatives, it is important, i agree with Machila, there must be an investigative reporting on this issue to trace those behind whether herbalist, wealth men, Religious or Political leaders, otherwise thanks to Malawi Gaming Board for sponsoring such a good initiative and hands up to the producers and comedians, have done an exciting and a sorrow motion play.

O……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..O The blame on relatives and conmen is as flawed as nonsensical as the blame on thieves for increased cases of theft and burglary in the country . . . . . . People who know the truth but choose to deliberately twist it are as irritating and useless as people who know what to do (to help reduce cases of albino abductions and killings) but choose not to do it. . . . Falsehood Number 1 . . . ” . . . relatives for people with albinism are the ones fuelling the malpractice.” – Gondwa (3rd Paragraph) .… Read more »

Police must intensify the security for Albino people, they should also request many donors e.g. UN body agencies, DFID, EU for more funding for such a programme like Tikhale Tcheru to continue not leaving to the current sponsor only-MGB, I must admit the programme is good and need to be supported. Such a programme must be repeated now and then so that the communication gets to the rural audiences. They can request an organization for Road shows where such videos must be played and in such, together we will end this campaign not looking at political point of view as… Read more »

This is not an excuse , if the law has been brocken amend where it has brocken . Now Mr Gondwe and your Team (Police ) are to blame for failing tackling crimes in this country. You went to school /training 15yrs ago now the world is changing so as the strategy of takling crimes… you cant say relative and yet you are unable to arrest to relatives.. So if you are saying relatives are the ones , should we live like that? Apolice you are doing your Job . hence SABORTAGE THE GOVERNMENT OF MUNTHALIKA ..in the name of… Read more »